Parent Information

We are very excited to offer your child the opportunity to participate in Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM) programs at UCCS! As part of our mission, we are constantly trying to better understand how best to meet the needs of children, educators, and parents as we strive for excellence in STEM education. To accomplish this, we offer year-round enrichment events for middle and high school students funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research through our Partnership in Innovative Preparation for Educators & Students (PIPES) Research Program. These events are meant to engage students with inquiry-based hands-on activities, and include topics like Robotics, Solar Cars, Rocketry, Sports Medicine, Biotechnology, Circuit Design, Board & Computer Game Design, Kitchen Chemistry, Cyber Security, CSI Investigation, Wildlife Biology, Physics of Filmmaking, Health Sciences, Audio Engineering, and Math Powered Art.

Enrollment in the PIPES Research Program is not a requirement for participation in our activities (with the exception of Math Bridge), but enrollment does offer the added benefits of lower cost of attendance, and scholarships to cover the cost of these activities for qualified students.

Research Programs

PIPES - The Partnership in Innovative Preparation for Educators & Students seeks to respond to the looming shortage of skilled science, technology, engineering and math workers and the lagging performance of students in science and math through innovative and supportive partnerships with parents, educators and professionals. Not only do we want to keep the STEM pipeline full, we also want to increase its diameter by attracting a new generation of creative, artistic and innovative students to solve our future problems. We offer programs for middle and high school students and teachers to increase the pipeline of engineers and scientists. Opportunities include educator professional development, inquiry-based science workshops and summer camps, research and development, and student success intervention programs.

If you would like more information about the PIPES Research Program, you can:

Student Enrichment Programs

MindQuest

A series of science workshops on the UCCS campus that focus on a particular topic in science and math with hands-on projects, labs and guest speakers demonstrating how those topics are being used in society. These events are open to both middle and high school students.

Mind Quest events are held Saturdays, and run from 8:30 to 11:30 for middle school students, and noon to 3:30 for high school students.

The cost for 2012-13 MindQuest activities is $30 for enrolled PIPES students, and $50 for non-enrolled students.

STEM By Me

STEM By Me is a year-round opportunity for 3rd through 5th grade students (grade in the upcoming school year) to engage in fun, hands-on activities on the UCCS campus. Students can attend week-long, half-day STEM camps during the summer, and during the school year they can attend Saturday MindQuest activities created just for them!.

The cost for the summer 2012 STEM By Me camps is $125 per week, and the Elementary MindQuest cost for 2012-13 is $35 per workshop.

FLITE (First In Leadership, Innovation, Technology, and Engineering)

FLITE offers a five day opportunity for middle and high school students to engage in a hands on science and technology project of their choosing alongside an industry mentor.

The cost for the summer 2012 FLITE event is $180 for enrolled PIPES students, and $300 for non-enrolled students.

JumpStartSTEM

JumpStart STEM is a five day scenario-driven summer experience where middle and high school students get to work with the professionals in the field, along with their cool toys, to solve a mock crime and see just how much science, technology, engineering, and math are involved in police, fire and emergency management jobs.

The cost for the summer 2012 JumpStart event is $180 for enrolled PIPES students, and $300 for non-enrolled students.

Math Bridge

The Math Bridge program was created to help students make a smooth transition from high school to college mathematics. It runs during the summer and is offered mostly online. It can be taken by high school students who have completed Algebra II.

The cost for the 2012 year is $125 for enrolled PIPES students, and $200 for non-enrolled students.

Pre-Collegiate Development Program

CSTEME is engaged in a partnership with the Pre-Collegiate Development Program (PCDP) located on the UCCS campus. This program has a 27 year track record in working with under represented populations in assisting them to pursue their dreams of a college education. With a 96% success rate in working with prospective first generation college families and students, this partnership will facilitate several of the goals of the PIPES program.

PCDP students attend PIPES activities as enrolled PIPES students.